“For later.” Trip tucked the Tootsie Pop in his front pocket before sitting down. “What are we celebrating?”
“I just hung up with the president of Denver’s Daring Denizens.” He leaned forward and drummed his hands on the desktop for emphasis, only to be met by Trip’s puzzled expression.
“Who or what is the triple D?” Trip shifted in his seat, raising crossed fingers while joking, “Please say it’s a group of strippers.”
Grey shook his head. “You think my candy habit’s a problem, but your sex-capades will cause a lot more trouble—for your health and your sanity.” Grey stretched his hands over his head, cracking his knuckles. “‘Triple D’ is a group of adrenaline addicts living around Denver. They organize all kinds of adventures for their membership of twenty-five hundred and growing. Backtrax is now on their list of certified program providers. They’ve just booked three large groups for September climbing trips with a promise to plan several winter ski trips, too. If I keep tapping into these kinds of groups, I can build a solid following by word of mouth. Repeat customers, that’s the key.”
“Well, this does deserve a celebration.” Trip rested one big cowboy boot across his opposite knee. “Maybe we should bring some bubbly to the jazz festival tonight.”
“Avery is finally introducing me to her brother, so I’m not going to make him uncomfortable by drinking.” Grey started sifting through one pile of mail on his desk. “You coming with us, or just meeting us there? Kelsey and their friend Emma will be staking out a good spot and marking it with a bunch of red balloons so we can find them.”
“Eh. No booze on top of the fact that jazz isn’t really my thing makes it a less-than-exciting proposition.”
“Not enough twang and tears for you, I suppose. But apparently the whole town comes out.” Grey then joked, “Seems like having all the women corralled in one place would be right up your alley.”
“Good point. Guess I’ll slip in toward the latter half and see where the night leads.”
Grey chuckled, then his gaze fixed on an envelope from Pyramid Insurance. He tore it open and withdrew the check he’d been expecting. Normally a healthy five-figure check would have him doing somersaults. Not this check.
“What’s that?” Trip leaned forward as if sensing money.
“OS settlement check.” Grey tossed it on the desk and watched Trip check out the amount.
“Seems a little light considering how badly that bartender screwed up.” He sat back and laced his hands behind his head. “Sorry, Grey. I know you’ve been hoping to avoid filing a suit against Avery’s brother.”
Grey crossed his arms, uninterested in another lecture about money. Trip just didn’t appreciate Avery’s importance in Grey’s life. There’d been other women since Juliette, but none that made him think about the future. None that made him feel everything more intensely. None that made all other women invisible.
“Not too long ago I’d assumed we’d be in the red by this point.” Grey clicked off the screen and picked up the check. “I’ll use this insurance money to settle some of the debts I’ve racked up because of my knee. But thanks in large part to your efforts, it’s not impossible to think we can keep Backtrax afloat until I’m fully back in the game, even if I choose to settle for Randall’s twenty-five grand.”
Trip scrubbed his hands over his face; his irked tone grated through the room. “You’ve guaranteed a big loan, Grey. And you still don’t know whether you’ll get full use of your knee back. Wouldn’t it be better to have a bigger buffer?” He tapped his pointer finger against the desk several times. “Quit putting Avery’s needs ahead of your own. If she cares as much about you as you care for her—she’ll want you to be treated fairly. She’ll want you to have some breathing room and not risk everything just so she can keep her house. It’s just a house, for God’s sake.”
“It’s her childhood home.” Grey sat back, crossing his arms again, fully aware she’d yet to invite him there. She’d kept him away, as if she were protecting it—and her heart—from him. So unlike Juliette. He didn’t know how to handle his disappointment about that distance, or how to make inroads beneath her defenses. “If her family loses it because of me, it’ll be over between us.”
“If that happens, it’s because of Andy, not you.” Trip planted both feet on the ground and placed his elbows on the desk. “I’m serious, Grey. Don’t you make any decisions until your doctor gives you the final call on your knee.”
Grey raised one hand. “Stop. I haven’t made a decision yet, and I don’t want to go ten rounds with you about it now. Let’s change the subject and talk about how we’re going to handle these new bookings.” When Trip nodded, albeit reluctantly, Grey continued. “I’m still limited physically, but Donner’s giving me a green light to do some light climbing in another two weeks.”
“Now there’s something to celebrate.” Trip high-fived Grey and then they started to brainstorm ways to devise climbing trips to accommodate various levels of expertise.
Later that evening, Avery sat between Grey’s legs, leaning against his chest while listening to the second band in the lineup. Last year, she’d begrudgingly attended the festival, still smarting from Matt’s rejection. She winced at the memory, recalling the various looks of pity and curiosity she’d endured.
Now the sexiest, most caring man she’d ever met was cuddling her on a blanket in the middle of the crowd. Although he appeared to be enjoying the guitar riffs gently weaving through the crowd, he seemed preoccupied.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Nothin’.” When he looked at her, his eyes twinkled with warmth and sweetness, which washed pleasure through her like a sip of hot cocoa.
“You look distracted,” she said, touching the spot behind her ear where his murmur had tickled.
“Just disappointed your brother decided not to show up. I’d hoped to officially meet him so we could get past the rough start.”
“I bet he doesn’t want to be on display in front of the whole town. With his hearing at the end of next week, meeting you now isn’t the best timing, anyway. I shouldn’t have suggested it.”
“You’re probably right.” Grey’s smile looked unconvinced.
“Hey, I’m here with you. Doesn’t that count for something?”
Sliding his arms around her waist, he purred, “Yes. You make me happy.”
Avery turned to kiss him, stroking his jaw with her hand. The deep growl in the back of his throat set off a spark of heat, which sizzled as he tightened his grip on her waist.
“Hey, you two. Save it for later,” Kelsey taunted. “There are kids here, you know.”
Grey chuckled and loosened his grip. “Sorry, ladies.”
Kelsey and Emma were seated in folding chairs next to an open cooler containing assorted drinks and snacks. Shaman lay on the corner of the blanket, gnawing on his braided bully stick.
“Where’s Trip, Grey?” Kelsey asked as she looked up at the cluster of red balloons floating above them. “Is he colorblind or something?”
“He said he’d probably come late. Should I tell him you missed him?”
“Hardly!” Kelsey snorted, brushing off a mosquito. “But Emma here has never met the infamous ladies’ man.”
“That’s okay.” Emma blushed. “He doesn’t sound like my type.”
“What’s your type?” Grey asked, leaning back on his elbows.
“Sincere, not showy.” Emma’s blush deepened to dark red, like her hair. “Sorry, I know he’s your friend.”
“No offense taken.” Grey winked at Emma.
Avery breathed a contented sigh, pleased with how Grey had been making an effort to get to know her friends this evening. She hadn’t realized how nervous she’d been about whether Kelsey could handle being with them. Fortunately, her concerns had been unfounded. With the exception of Grey’s disappointment about not meeting Andy, the evening had been perfect so far.